Music tech Reviews Software Step 1 Tech
You can now get eight of UA’s best plug-ins free, plus the free LUNA DAW
UAD Explore is a surprise. This is no “intro” or limited pack; eight stand-out Universal Audio plug-ins are available for free. That’s on top of the company’s free Luna DAW — though the plug-ins will also work in your DAW of choice, no special hardware required. For skill sharing or anyone lacking a budget now, that means access to some great tools.
Read more
Akai’s MPC Sample is compact, $399 — let’s compare it to an original MPC60!
It’s real, it’s adorable, it’s an MPC you can hold in your hand, and it costs just $399. Tiny desks now accommodate whole studios. But now that Akai has shared the full specs for MPC Sample — why not compare it to the original 1988 MPC60, spec-for-spec?
Peter Kirn - March 24, 2026
Gear Music tech Stories Tech
Pi Day: Chino Yoshio and Sine Wave Marimbas and Cherry Blossoms
“Chino Yoshio, a composer based quietly in Kyotanabe, Kyoto” has been working with sine waves in poetic, beautifully reflective ways. I’m going to run today with the idea that sine waves need not be just neutral, the absence of harmonics — not just a technical description, like an oscillator. (There’s academic research expanding this definition.) […]
Video guide to accessibility in Ableton Move, Move Everything – Andre Louis
Peter Kirn - March 8, 2026
Gear Music tech Software Tech
Ardour 9.2, free and open DAW, grants user wishes — Region FX, anyone?
Peter Kirn - February 23, 2026
Music tech Software Tech
Yep, Akai has a honkin’ huge new flagship MPC XL — gallery
Peter Kirn - January 20, 2026
Gear Music tech Tech
